CONGRESS CAN’T FALL FOR TRUMP’S BAIT-AND-SWITCH: NO DHS CONFIRMATION WITHOUT REFORMS
QUICK READ: Trump is trying to fool Americans into believing that all ICE/CBP needs is new leadership, but replacing one loyalist with another is merely a bait-and-switch. Because Markwayne Mullin is an election denier who’s spent years defending ICE and attacking anyone trying to rein in its abuses, Democrats must block both DHS funding and Mullin’s confirmation until the changes Americans demand are enacted into law.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
DHS’ partial shutdown continues because Trump and his Senate puppets refuse to apply the Constitution to ICE/CBP. Agents’ ongoing unlawful occupations of American cities, their lies and refusal to obey court orders, and their terror campaigns against immigrants, reporters, peaceful protesters, and citizens protecting their neighbors demonstrate the clear need for the modest reforms Democrats demand.
Rather than implementing them, which three-in-five Americans want, Trump’s handing DHS—one of America’s most powerful and sensitive national security posts –to an extremely unqualified MAGA loyalist, Markwayne Mullin—an election denier, mass deportation supporter, and committed opponent of congressional oversight, who’s spent years defending ICE and attacking anyone trying to rein in its abuses.
DHS’s annual budget exceeds $100 billion, employs over 260,000 across 22 agencies, and oversees surveillance, counterterrorism, immigration enforcement, border control, disaster response, and domestic security.
Mullin has no experience in any of them. He was a plumber, a rancher, and a wrestler before joining Congress, where he neither introduced relevant legislation nor served on DHS’ oversight committee.
Replacing one loyalist with another is a bait-and-switch, not reform, since he’ll enforcing existing destructive polices with the same disregard for oversight and constitutional limitations.
Because our MoCs can neither allow loyalty to substitute for competence nor retreat from the righteous fight to rein in ICE abuses, they must block both DHS funding and Mullin’s confirmation until the changes Americans demand are enacted into law—to both demonstrate Democrats’ commitment to protecting Americans from Trump’s secret police and tar GOP Senators with his extreme, unpopular positions.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is trying to fool Americans into believing that all ICE and the Border Patrol need is new leadership, but replacing one incompetent, unqualified loyalist with another is merely a bait-and-switch. Because Markwayne Mullin is an election denier who’s spent years defending ICE and attacking anyone trying to rein in its abuses, as your constituent, I am calling on you to convince your colleagues to deny both DHS funding and Mullin’s confirmation until the modest changes Americans demand are enacted into law. Please know that I appreciate everything you are doing to bring DHS into compliance with the Constitution and modern policing principles your GOP colleagues are willing to ignore.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is trying to fool Americans into believing that all ICE and the Border Patrol need is new leadership, but replacing one incompetent, unqualified loyalist with another is merely a bait-and-switch. Because Markwayne Mullin is an election denier who’s spent years defending ICE and attacking anyone trying to rein in its abuses, as your constituent, I am calling on you to convince your colleagues to deny both DHS funding and Mullin’s confirmation until the modest changes Americans demand are enacted into law. Please know that I appreciate everything you are doing to bring DHS into compliance with the Constitution and modern policing principles your GOP colleagues are willing to ignore.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Trump is trying to fool Americans into believing that all ICE and the Border Patrol need is new leadership, but replacing one incompetent, unqualified loyalist with another is merely a bait-and-switch. Because Markwayne Mullin is an election denier who’s spent years defending ICE and attacking anyone trying to rein in its abuses, as your constituent, I am calling on you to refuse to act on his confirmation until DHS is brought into compliance with the Constitution and modern policing principles, which all of you should support.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee, and in reminding them that only congressional Democrats believe the Constitution and modern police practices must be practiced by Trump’s secret police and are willing to fight for them by withholding funds from DHS. You can also get your message across by continuing to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol and remind constituents that the GOP, at Trump’s demand, not the Democrats, are preventing this outcome.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee. Please also try to convince your leadership to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee, and in reminding them that only congressional Democrats believe the Constitution and modern police practices must be practiced by Trump’s secret police and are willing to fight for them by withholding funds from DHS. You can also get your message across by continuing to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol and remind constituents that the GOP, at Trump’s demand, not the Democrats, are preventing this outcome.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee, and in reminding them that only congressional Democrats believe the Constitution and modern police practices must be practiced by Trump’s secret police and are willing to fight for them by withholding funds from DHS. You can also get your message across by continuing to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol and remind constituents that the GOP, at Trump’s demand, not the Democrats, are preventing this outcome.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee, and in reminding them that only congressional Democrats believe the Constitution and modern police practices must be practiced by Trump’s secret police and are willing to fight for them by withholding funds from DHS. You can also get your message across by continuing to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol and remind constituents that the GOP, at Trump’s demand, not the Democrats, are preventing this outcome.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Although Markwayne’s confirmation as DHS Secretary will be decided in the Senate, you have an important role to play in educating your constituents about Trump’s bait-and-switch, and the gross incompetence of this nominee, and in reminding them that only congressional Democrats believe the Constitution and modern police practices must be practiced by Trump’s secret police and are willing to fight for them by withholding funds from DHS. You can also get your message across by continuing to support funding for all DHS agencies except ICE and Border Patrol and remind constituents that the GOP, at Trump’s demand, not the Democrats, are preventing this outcome.
FURTHER READING
Americans are fed up with cruel immigration policies
Markwayne Mullin: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Noem Boss
The Risky Rise of Markwayne Mullin
Questions for Markwayne Mullin
Markwayne Mullin faces a straightforward path to confirmation as DHS secretary
Mullin support for Trump immigration policies under microscope with DHS nomination
Mullin’s Experience with Immigration Was Secret (and Bad)
How Trump’s Homeland Security Pick, a Prolific Investor, Got a Lot Wealthier in Congress
Homeland Security funding bill falters again in Senate as Republicans warn of Iran risk
